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Hi all. I haven't been here in a while. We have 3 tiels, 2 females, and 1 male, all sibs. (male is 4 yrs old, females are almost 2). One female and the male have paired up, but no eggs (which is fine!!). Our "lone" female, has lately been doing something unusual. She sits, puts the longest toe of one foot in her mouth, then puts it back down, over and over (almost as if a seed is stuck in the top of her beak). But if I approach her, she stops, and acts perfectly normal. She plays, eats, drinks, interacts with us normally. She only does this when left alone. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

In her beak or her nose? Perhaps she has an itch or something stuck? You may want to get a flashlight and look in her mouth/nostrils. She may need a nasal flush, which, if you are not comfortable doing, should have an avian vet do for you.

And if they are all related, I suppose it's best not to encourage breeding!

Is there something stuff to her foot. maybe too long a toe nail?

I must agree with Monica (MFids) about sibling breeding.
You will find that sibling birds will bond (ask Sam!) and yep, they will mate, but please, do not even attempt to breed with them by introducing a nestbox.

As for putting her toe in her mouth, I see mine do it with their nostrils which is always followed by a sneeze, this happens regularly, toes into mouths I have seen too but appeared to be more like "grooming" than anything else.........

It is definitely her beak. That was my thinking, that she may have a seed or something stuck in the upper beak. She seems to act normally most of the time, this seems to only be occasional. She still eats normally, including nuts as treats.

Thanks for the flashlight idea, although I don't know what I would do if I did see something.